Biyaheng Norte

It all started with an earnest desire to show up on the 2nd birthday party of my dear inaanak, Sophia. My dear friend Charol was always persistent in sending us invites since Pia’s christening but our work schedules and other activities always got in the way. When I received a text from Charol, I know in my heart that we’re gonna make it this time. On that Saturday morning, Sim and I excitedly rolled out of bed early to get ready for a trip to San Fernando City, La Union. It’s a well-timed trip for us so as to breathe some fresh air. SIm and I always look forward to long drives. We were supposed to leave Baguio earlier but Sim’s boss called up and he needed to give instructions and send a round of text messages to his officemates. Another important concern, the car needed some coolant and oil so we dropped by the nearest gasoline station. We’re about to set off but Sim realized that his driver’s license was misplaced. Noticing the hassles, I started to pray and ask God if it’s all right to carry on with the journey. We got back and thank God that Sim found his license and got the cellphone that I also left at home. At last, we’re back on the road via Marcos Highway. We had our first stop at the Eagle Monument in Agoo. It’s been my long time dream (since college days) to pose beside the huge statue of eagle! Moving on, we passed the towns of Aringay and Caba. We visited the Paiko Resort in Caba. The resort offers a serene beachfront haven. We had some pictures taken showcasing the beautiful view of the beach. We reached San Fernando City thirty minutes before the party schedule. I didn’t ask Charol which Jollibee branch because I wanted to surprise her. It’s really a blessing that the first branch where we stopped was the one! It’s really a pleasure to see Pia for the first time, she’s such a cute kid. I was asked to open the celebration in prayer. Sim and I really had a fun time at the kiddie party. It’s true what they say that there’s always a child in us. We enjoyed the yummylicious servings: spaghetti, chickenjoy, french fries, sundae, and soda. After the two-hour party, we went to visit the La Union Botanical Garden in Cadaclan. It’s approximately eight kilometers away from the city proper. The garden is nestled on a mountainous twenty-hectare land. It is home to a varied species of living plants and a sanctuary of varieties of wild animals and nature. One station that caught my attention was the Biblical Garden, there are a number of bible verses posted all over the garden. It’s a delight to read those verses and be refreshed. It’s always a wonderful feeling to have a date with nature. On our way to Baguio, we had a stopover at the Bauang Public Market to buy some fish and veggies that are a lot cheaper as compared with the prices in Baguio. We also bought a box of Bauang’s best seller buko pie. Praise God for another adventure-packed day. It’s always a blessing to travel away from home with my husband by my side. It’s always a blessing to visit places with God’s traveling mercies upon us.